What is Uniformity in Accounting?

Uniformity is the practice of requiring organizations to record accounting information and prepare financial statements in accordance with a relevant accounting framework. By requiring strict adherence to an accounting framework, every entity in an industry should report financial information in the same way. With identical preparation methods in place, it is possible to reliably compare the financial results of large numbers of companies.

Example of Uniformity in Accounting

An example of uniformity in accounting can be seen in the banking industry, where regulatory bodies such as the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council require all banks to follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles when preparing their financial statements. For instance, all banks must use the same methodology for calculating loan loss reserves and reporting interest income. This ensures that when regulators, investors, and analysts review financial statements across multiple banks, the data is presented using the same definitions and criteria, enabling accurate comparisons of performance, risk exposure, and financial health.

Uniformity Failures

The uniformity concept does not always work, since some managers like to stretch the accounting rules to improve their financial statements. For example, a manager wants to report an unusually high profit level in order to earn a year-end bonus. By convincing the company controller to reduce the size of the allowance for doubtful accounts, this creates a modest improvement in the reported profit level that allows the manager to attain the bonus payment threshold. Thus, personal considerations can result in ongoing breaches in the uniformity concept.